(PHOTO COURTESY OF BOB DEA – DALY DOSE OF HOOPS)
Kevin Willard’s Pirates teams have always been known to provide dominant defense across the college basketball spectrum during their respective seasons.
The difference this season, has been the depth just through two contests. Arguably, one of the best teams from top to bottom that we have seen in the Willard era.
From start to finish, the Seton Hall Pirates were able to take down the Yale Bulldogs by more than 30 points. One spurt in the first half put the Bulldogs within just three points of Seton Hall. The Willard to call a timeout, before the Pirates went on an 8-0 run to effectively put the contest out of reach in the middle portion of the first half, and never looked back.
Sophomore guard and Syracuse transfer Kadary Richmond put on a show this afternoon, as he logged 22 quality minutes on the court, and converted 5-of-8 from the field, grabbed five caroms, three assists, and a pair of steals in the contest. “Kadary’s been phenomenal. His attitude is off the charts, he’s working hard to get in better shape, and as he gets more comfortable with the ball in his hands, you’re going to see more and more nights were, nine assists to turnovers. He’s progressing that way, he’s that talented, and he’s working really hard to just understand what I want from him offensively and defensively.”
We can’t forget about South Florida transfer Alexis Yetna, who added 15 points and three boards in 22 minutes on the floor.
This is also a Yale Bulldogs team who stunned UMass by a mere 20 points just a couple of nights ago.
Can Seton Hall compete with the likes of a national powerhouse in Juwan Howard and the Michigan Wolverines? Tuesday will provide LOTS of answers to questions.
Here are our five thoughts from this contest that may provide some answers to questions you made after this Sunday matinee:
1. Deepest team since….?
· Looking at the depth of this Pirates team. Senior guard Jared Rhoden says the team felt “disrespected” when the Big East coaches chose the Pirates to finish fifth in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll. This afternoon, Seton Hall tallied 33 bench points. 21 of those, came in the second half, when Tyrese Samuel added seven points to the scoresheet. On the defensive side of the ball, the Pirates have now held both the Bulldogs and the FDU Knights to less than 50 points.
2. Who are your five starters?
· As head coach Kevin Willard mentioned in the postgame press conference, the way this team is playing, it’s awfully difficult to figure out the starting five come conference season after a performance like today. “Our rotation is a work in progress all the way until December.” This afternoon, Willard sent out Richmond, Yetna, Harris, Obiagu, and Myles Cale.
3. Bulldogs lethargic from downtown
· Head Coach Kevin Willard said in the postgame press-conference that one of the team’s primary focuses heading into the first two games of the season is to remove the three-point shot from FDU and Yales’ basket of options. The Pirates were able to do just that, as Seton Hall held the Ivy League preseason favorite to just four completions from deep in 30 attempts. Two of those were made by Matthue Cotton, and one a piece by Jack Molloy and Luke Kolaja.
4. Kevin went to Jared….Rhoden!
· No, not the store, even though we’re getting awfully close to the holiday season. The other Jared. Preseason All-Big East first teamer Jared Rhoden made his much anticipated return this afternoon, as he went through warmups and would be available off the bench. Seems to be okay, as he provided the Pirates with eight points, and 10 rebounds in 21 minutes of action. Head coach Kevin Willard told us in the press conference, that his maximum time on the court available today, was 22 minutes.
5. Can the Pirates compete with the Michigan Wolverines?
· Well, Kevin Willard was asked about what he remembered from when he was 14 years old. What happened all those years ago one might ask? Does the 1989 national title game ring a bell? Right. That one. Seton Hall and Michigan has a TON of history between the two, and these programs now have another piece of history to write on Tuesday, when the two faceoff in the Gavitt Tipoff games.
· Something else to note, this will be the first time in nearly two years, that Seton Hall will be facing off against an opponent in a packed arena. Last year, the Pirates played inside Hinkle Fieldhouse with a capacity of 6,000. “I think the good thing is we’ve got a bunch of old guys. It’s going to be what, almost two years since we’ve been in a true road game? Butler had 6,000 fans and that kind of shook us. I think it’s great. It’s going to prepare us for the rest of the season. It’s great being back in front of fans at home, I’ve got to shout out our student section, they were phenomenal. Our guys, the first thing they said coming out of the huddle was, ‘if they’re showing up, we’ve gotta show up.’ So they’ve been great. I think it’s going to be a great atmosphere, they’re obviously a terrific basketball team, and it’s a great test.” Commented Willard post game.
The Pirates are off and running to compete in the Gavitt Tipoff Games on Tuesday, November 16, when they face the No. 6 ranked Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor, MI.
